Cardiovascular Disease

Transcription

1 Cardiovascular Disease Controlling your risk factors WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU Monitor your blood pressure on a regular basis If you have high blood pressure, reduce your intake of salt, tea and coffee Drink alcohol in moderation Maintain your weight at a level in accordance with your height Eat a balanced, nutritious diet, avoiding pre-cooked, frozen or fried food, as well as saturated and trans fats A HEALTHY DIET AND LIFESTYLE ARE YOUR BEST WEAPONS TO FIGHT CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE Increase your intake of vegetables and fruit Choose highly nutritious, low-calorie food Don t eat more calories than you know you can burn up every day. Increase the amount and intensity of your physical activity to match the number of calories you take. Avoid fad diets. They don t work and may be harmful for your health. A diet may only be prescribed by a specialist. Stop smoking Exercise according to your health, physical characteristics and preferences. If your physical activity is not pleasant, you will quickly stop practicing it. Therefore, taking dancing lessons could be more effective than going to the gym. Modify your daily habits and take more walks, climb the stairs instead of taking the elevator, leave the car at home when you shop at nearby stores, enjoy nature more often Take time for leisure activities and rest Learn to manage stress Get enough sleep and rest Keep a positive attitude and face daily problems with a sense of humor Have a medical checkup every year or as often as recommended by your doctor Join us in celebrating Heart Disease Prevention Month at the Clínica Alemana this August. Legal Representative: Marcelo Magofke G. General Coordination: Paula Ithurbisquy L. Editorial Committee: Dr. Alejandro Abufhele B., Dr. Mauricio Fernández A., Nurses, Coronary ICU Nurses and Unit Nurse Verónica Elsholz B. Illustrations: Marcelo Gálvez. Production: Sánchez y Barceló,

2 Clínica Alemana Av. Vitacura 5951, Vitacura Santiago de Chile Phone: (56 2) Fax: (56 2) Centro Médico Clínica Alemana de La Dehesa Av. El Rodeo 1908, Lo Barnechea Santiago de Chile Phone: (56 2) Fax: (56 2)

3 Aprendamos de N o 17 7 th Edition / Collectible Newsletter published by Clínica Alemana Nº 17 / July 2009 Studies show that in Chile cardiovascular disease is responsible for 28% of all deaths and is the leading cause of mortality in both sexes. This disease is linked to atherosclerosis, a condition in which cholesterol, fat and fibrous tissue build up in the walls of the large and medium-sized arteries, narrowing their width and reducing the supply of blood to the heart and other organs. If a narrowed coronary artery is completely blocked by a blood clot, this will result in a heart attack or myocardial infarction; if it is an artery supplying blood to the brain, the result will be a stroke; if the narrowed blood vessels are in the legs, the result will be pain when walking or poor distal circulation. There are several risk factors that can help predict the likelihood of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease in a person. RISK FACTORS AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE

4 Learning about... RISK FACTORS AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE What are cardiovascular disease risk factors? They are individual conditions that can increase the risk of developing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. There are two types of risk factors: FACTORS THAT CANNOT BE CHANGED These are the factors that are inherent to each person and cannot be prevented or changed. FACTORS THAT CAN BE CHANGED These are the factors that can be corrected or reduced by means of changes in your lifestyle. Which risk factors High blood pressure can be changed? High blood pressure increases the heart s workload, causing the heart to thicken and become stiffer. Blood pressure is the force of blood against the walls of the arteries. Systolic pressure is the highest pressure in an artery when your heart is pumping blood to your body. Diastolic pressure is the lowest pressure in an artery when your heart is at rest. Systolic pressures above mmhg and diastolic pressures above mmhg are considered to be high and must be checked regularly. ObesiTY Obesity is a serious health problem which has been on the rise in Chile. Classically, obesity has been defined as increased body weight resulting from excess body fat. This happens when you eat more calories than you burn. Many studies have shown that obese patients are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease than people with normal weight. The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measurement tool that compares your height to your weight and gives you an indication of whether you are overweight or not. BMI: The BMI is calculated by dividing your weight in kilos by the square of your height in meters. Example: weight (kg) 70 kg BMI: = 21.6 (Height in meters) (m) 2 (1.8 m) 2 BMI Categories Normal weight Overweight Moderate Obesity Severe Obesity Morbid Obesity over 40

5 Physical inactivity An inactive lifestyle is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease. Studies have shown a direct link between a sedentary lifestyle and dying from cardiovascular disease. Regular, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity can help control blood cholesterol, diabetes and obesity, as well as help lower blood pressure and control stress. The American Heart Association recommends minutes of aerobic exercise (walking at a rate of 6 km/hour) every day to reduce the risk of heart attacks. Before undertaking an exercise program, though, you should consult your physician. High blood cholesterol Cholesterol is a soft, fat-like, waxy substance found in the bloodstream and in all your body s cells. It s normal to have cholesterol. However, too much cholesterol in the blood can clog arteries and poses a major risk for coronary heart disease and stroke. In order to circulate in the blood, cholesterol combines with lipoproteins, which carry cholesterol and triglycerides. These lipoproteins are synthesized in the liver and intestines. The cholesterol that circulates together with the HDL lipoprotein is called good cholesterol and the one that circulates together with the LDL lipoprotein is called bad cholesterol. HDL: This lipoprotein tends to carry cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver, where it s passed from the body. It removes excess cholesterol from arterial plaque, slowing its buildup. LDL: When too much LDL (bad) cholesterol circulates in the blood, it can slowly build up in the inner walls of the arteries that feed the heart and brain, and build up a thick, hard deposit that can narrow the arteries and make them less flexible. LDL derives from a diet high in saturated fat. Normal levels of cholesterol are vital for cell metabolism. Cholesterol is dangerous only if high levels are found in the bloodstream. Studies show that people with over 240 mg/dl of cholesterol in their blood have twice as much risk of having a heart attack than those who have levels below 200 mg/dl. Diabetes Alcohol STrEss Diabetes seriously increases your risk of developing cardiovascular disease because it increases glucose levels in the bloodstream, leading to a condition in which the body doesn t respond efficiently to the insulin it makes. This state of hyperglycemia produces accelerated atherosclerosis, which gradually damages the blood vessels. Drinking too much alcohol can raise blood pressure and triglyceride levels, leading to heart failure and stroke. Drinking moderate amounts of red wine (no more than two glasses per day) has been shown to raise the level of HDL cholesterol. Individual response to stress may be a contributing factor to developing cardiovascular disease. Stress cannot be reduced completely because it is a normal reaction to an external event, so it is not dangerous in itself. However, it becomes a risk factor when it is unmanageable and generates an imbalance that may lead to cardiovascular disease.

6 SMOKING Smoking, as well as exposure to other people s smoke, is a major risk in developing cardiovascular disease because it damages the walls of the arteries and promotes cholesterol buildup in the arteries, even for nonsmokers. At the same time, smoking is the risk factor that can be most easily prevented. Studies have shown that smokers risk of developing coronary heart disease is 3 times that of nonsmokers. Smoking can produce coronary or cardiovascular disease by means of three mechanisms. Each time new nicotine arrives in Nicotine produces alterations Smoking leads to higher 1. our brain, it causes the release of 2. in coagulation, increasing 3. levels of bad cholesterol adrenaline and noradrenaline, which in turn cause the immediate release of stored fats into the bloodstream. the ability of platelets to link to each other and form blood clots. (LDL) and reduces the levels of good cholesterol (HDL). Which risk factors cannot be changed? MALE SEX (GENDER): Men have a greater risk of heart attacks than women do, and they have attacks earlier in life. Women are protected by the effect of estrogen, but their risk increases after menopause to a level equal to men s. HEREDITY: Children of parents with heart disease are more likely to develop it themselves. A family history of aneurism in the aorta is also an important risk factor. INCREASING AGE: The risk of developing cardiovascular disease increases with age. In men there is a marked increase after the age of 45, while in women it increases after the age of 55. MEDICAL HISTORY OF CORONARY DISEASE: People who have been diagnosed with coronary disease are more likely to develop a new episode in other blood vessels.